I'm conducting the first time ever DC poll for the most vocal or outspoken atheist of the year. I'm including Richard Dawkins, PZ Myers, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Maher, Dan Dennett, Sam Harris (more of an agnostic), Michael Shermer, Victor Stenger, Dan Barker, and Hemant Mehta. If I left out someone notable let me know. Again, this is for the year 2009. I'm even going to let you choose more than one just in case you cannot decide.

If you don't know of someone then they must not have been vocal enough. After voting you might want to read about some of these nominees and vote for the atheist who has made the best contribution to atheism in this poll.

John has created this great atheist neighborhood where we can shout, listen, scream, think, grudgingly agree, ponder, appreciate each other, and even the Christians seem to have a good time. Hey you Jesus people, welcome to an atheism community and maybe we can convince you to stay permanently. (I have a hunch John has you in a twelve step program, and you don't even know it.)

True AC Grayling would be a good choice, suck an eloquent man. I voted for PZ though, just to destroy the challenge from that douche The Friendly Atheist - The most boring Atheist blogger on the web imho.

Herment? Are you kidding me John? His blog contributes nothing important or new. He just rehashes everything he sees on popular atheist blogs like PZ's, Dawkins', and yours. He should be taken out of this poll and your name should be inserted.

Ariane Sherine, founder of the atheist bus campaign, was missed on this poll, and Atheist of the Year. She initiated ads on the sides of buses in the UK, and inspired others around the world to do the same. That's seems pretty vocal to me.

However, if he asks us to vote for him, I am sure most would do as I did...visit the web page he posts, then look at the alternatives, then THINK them through...I had a CHOICE to vote for PZ in that poll AFTER I reviewed the list of candidates.

I think PZ should get props, but some so-called people of reason are taking his high number of votes as a slap in the face...how childish. Just admit PZ whooped that poll 'cos his voice is strong...don't go resentin' him for that y'all!

Also, I see a "poll crash" , and I use that term advisedly, such as this as a nice statistical entity that can shed further light when looked at in context with the other results.

To all of you who suggested PZ does not deserve a high number of votes, please don't assume the voters have done his bidding without thinking through the alternatives...it is a rather arrogant supposition to make...I'm talkin' to you, leo-rcc...However, I agree with you on A C Grayling!

I enjoyed reading the poll comments...I'm with you, christophermencken...I just love the sound of a "12-Step program to Atheism" Har har!

Forex, I am a feminst, at least as much as a man can be. I chose to limit my poll to ten atheists, overlooking several other influential atheists. It's really hard to get a feel for who is the most outspoken atheist, but I disregarded gender, since the category of "most vocal atheist" is gender neutral. If a woman is more outspoken as an atheist than any of the ten names I put on this list then I apologize. But I won't be doing another poll. Others are doing that now.